All Over Albany

The week ahead

Here are a few things to keep in mind, look forward to, or keep busy with this week, from the weather (maybe some rain), to The Track, to an outdoor move on the ESP, to writers in Saratoga, a six-hour concert, and Wilco...

Weather

Updated Here's the paraphrased forecast:

Monday: Cloudy, muggy, highs in the upper 80s. Chance of thunderstorms, possibly with hail.

Tuesday: Sunny, mid 80s. Small chance of thunderstorms.

Wednesday: Sunny and 80.

Thursday: Cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs around 80.

Friday: Cloudy, small chance of rain. Highs in the low 80s.

Weekend: Partly sunny, maybe a bit of rain. Low 80s.

Grass forecast: continued brown and crunchiness.

The Track

It's the first full week or racing this season at the Saratoga Race Course (remember: no races on Tuesday). Among the special events this week:

+ Friday is College Day -- college students get free grandstand admission (usually $3) with a valid college ID. There will also be college-related prizes and giveaways. Racing also starts late that day -- gates open at noon, first race at 2:30 pm.

+ The first gate giveaway of the season is Sunday -- a Saratoga Race Course baseball cap. As with all the gate giveaways, they're free with paid admission while supplies last. (Yep, some people will pay to enter multiple times in order to get multiple giveaways. It's called "spinning." To each their own.)

Outdoor movie at the Empire State Plaza

Wednesday at the ESP: the Summer At The Plaza series will be showing the animated movie Puss in Boots (you know, the one with the cat from the Shrek movies, voiced by Antonio Banderas) outside on the plaza near the State Museum. "Bring your lawn chairs and blankets ... There will be lots of favorite movie foods available or bring your own. (no glass bottles please)." (The series is also showing Star Trek (the JJ Abrams one) on August 8.) movie starts at 8:30 pm - free

Writers in Saratoga

The NYS Writers Institute summer series of public readings wraps up this week in Saratoga. A few of the highlights: Darin Strauss on Monday; Jamaica Kincaid on Tuesday; Mary Gaitskill on Wednesday; Rick Moody on Thursday. And on Friday: a panel discussion -- "Writers on the Presidential Election" -- featuring Katha Pollit, James Miller, and Robert Boyers. all start at 8 pm in Skidmore's Palamountain Hall - free

Theater

The packed summer theater festival season continues. A few highlights for this week:

+ The Williamstown Theatre Festival's production of The Elephant Man -- starring Patricia Clarkson, Bradley Cooper and a few other actors you might recognize -- opens Wednesday (be sure to check about tickets -- it looks like it's down to a lottery situation for available spots). The adaptation of Far From Heaven closes Sunday.

+ Also at WTF: a stand-up benefit show by Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm) Monday night. (It looks like just a few tickets are left.) 7:30 pm - $30 and $60

+ The Park Playhouse's great production of Cabaret at Albany's Washington Park Lakehouse closes Sunday.

Comedy... with music

Something different after Troy Night Out this Friday: The J/K Follies --"an evening of comedy and music with Kevin Marshall and Jed Davis" -- at the Daily Grind in Troy. Says Kevin: "The idea is to provide an all-around entertaining evening of crisp, quick entertainment that keeps the audience engaged, amused, and enthralled. What I envision is essentially a live, 21st Century version of the Merv Griffin Show." 8:30 pm - $5 suggested donation

By the way: Jed Davis has a new album.

Bang on a Can Marathon

Saturday at MASS MoCA: the Bang on a Can festival concludes with a six hour concert -- featuring more than 50 musicians -- from composer Steve Reich (you're can come and go as you please during the concert). The museum's galleries will be open until 8 pm that day, too. 4 pm - $24 / $35 day pass (includes gallery admission) / $15 students

Music

Monday: The Gaslight Anthem at Upstate Concert Hall
Jersey. In the good way. 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 at door

Tuesday: Nickelback at SPAC
You've been given fair warning. With: Bush -- somewhere the 90s teen version of you sighs at the thought of Gavin Rossdale (still married to Gwen Stefani, as it happens); and May Darkest Days. 6:30 pm - $25

The Conor Oberst show at The Egg Wednesday is sold out (and has been for a long time).

Wednesday: The Dave Matthews Tribute Band at Rockin' on the River in Troy
Not sure if that's a placeholder phrase -- or just an incredibly apt name for the band. 5 pm - free

Thursday: Smash Mouth at Alive at Five
"Hey now, you're an all star..." With: The Dylan Emmett Band. 5 pm - free

Thursday: MaryLeigh and The Fauves at Putnam Den
With Orphan Legs. 9 pm - free

Friday: Lyle Lovett at Brewery Ommegang
Outside. Gates open at 5 pm. 8 pm - $55 advance / $60 day of

Friday: Santana and Allman Brothers Band at SPAC
Classic rock double shot. 7 pm - $40 and up

Friday: The City Never Sleeps at Red Square
With: Linear North, Growing Pains. 8 pm

Friday: The Blue Olives at Upbeat on the Roof at the Tang
Funk/blues/rock. 7 pm - free

Saturday: Wilco at Brewery Ommegang
You can catch them here if you couldn't snag tickets for the MASS MoCA benefit. Also: fireworks. With: Lee Ranaldo Band. $42.00

Saturday: O.A.R. at SPAC
The members of O.A.R. went to OSU. 7 pm - $20 and up

Saturday: Sierra Hull at Helsinki Hudson
Bluegrass mandolin prodigy. 8 pm - $15

Saturday: Skeletons in the Piano at Putnam Den
With: Kane Grogan, Cletus, Purifier. 10 pm - $5

Sunday: Sharon Van Etten at Helsinki Hudson
"She's been silencing rooms in drunken bars for a long time." 8 pm - $18 ahead / $20 day of

These are a just a few things for this week. Know of something people should be looking forward to this week? Please share!

Look for our "Stuff to do this weekend" post on Friday.

SPAC advertises on AOA.

photo: Danny Clinch via Gaslight Anthem Facebook